Donald Keith can't believe the fuss that has been made because a Shepherd received Holy Communion.

The Shepherd called Trapper - a Shepherd mix rescue dog - received the wafer that represents the body of Christ at St. Peter's Anglican Church on Carlton St.

"This happened a month ago," Keith said. "One church parishioner had a problem with it. This morning (Wednesday) I wake up and see it on the news that some guy's dog received communion. Then I go to the dog park and people were talking about it being on the radio."

When Trapper received communion, Keith was a new member of the church, where pets are allowed.

"The minister welcomed me and said come up and take communion, and Trapper came up with me and the minister gave him communion as well. Then he bent his head and said a little prayer," Keith said.

"I thought it was a nice way to welcome me into the church," he said. "I thought it was acceptable.

"There was an old lady in the front just beaming when she saw this," Keith said. "Ninetynine-point-nine per cent of the people in the church love Trapper and the kids play with him.

"It was just one person who got his nose out of joint and went to the head of the Anglican Church," he said. "Holy smokes. We are living in the downtown core. This is small stuff. I thought it was innocent and it made me think of the Blessing of the Animals."

The church has since told Keith he and his dog are most welcome at the church, but Trapper can no longer receive communion.

"This has blown me away. The church is even getting e-mails from Catholics," he said.

Everything is fine, said Peggy Needham, the deputy people's warden at the church.

"The backlash is from just one person. Something happened that won't happen again. Something our interim priest did spontaneously," Needham said.

"This person went to the top and e-mailed our Bishop to make a fuss and change things," she said. "But he misjudged our congregation."